25/03/2024
The defense theory in the Delphi case is that sticks in the shape of runes were left on Libby and Abby's bodies. I did some research into runes which people will hopefully find useful. At times this may read as if I agree with the defence that the sticks and the "F" were runes - I don't, but I've looked at their theory as if I do.
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"The pattern looks very similar to an asterisk consisting of 3 tree branches all joined in the middle. ... This stick configuration is a spot-on resemblance for the rune called “Hagal”. This rune is used to depict the word ‘Hail”. Therefore, the combination of the Hagal rune found on Abby and the Ansuz rune found on the tree when combined would proclaim “Hail Odin.”" (Memorandum in support of Franks motion, pp. 26-27)
The rune "hagal" the defence describes is probably a psuedo-rune developed in the early 1900s, as part of the Armanen runes - these pseudo-runes are widely used in the Volkisch/White Nationalist Odinist groups, a philosophy which Brad Holder apparently held (at least at one point). Guido von List, who developed these psuedo-runes, gave its definition as "the All Nurturing/Cherishing, to enclose; Hail, to destroy." The SS used this rune to refer to faith in N**i ideology.
It is derived from the Younger Futhark rune "hagall", which does indeed mean "hail" - but it refers literally to the weather, ie hailstones, not the verb "to hail" someone/something. Even if we accept that the rune is the "hagall" rune from the Younger Futhark and the defence simply misspelt it, which is possible, it still doesn't mean what it has been described as meaning.
If the sticks were staged in order to say "Hail Odin", their runic knowledge appears to be somewhat lacking - they are either saying "Enclose Odin", "Destroy Odin" or "Hailstones Odin".
"The F resembles a rune called “Ansuz” which stands for “Odin”." (Memorandum, p.27)
The "ansuz" rune is used to refer to "god" and often (but not solely) to Odin. However, neither the Armanen rune alphabet from which the "hagal" rune comes, nor the Younger Futhark, contain the "ansuz" rune. "Ansuz" comes from the Elder Futhark. If runes were being depicted at the crime scene, either two different runic alphabets were being used or the defence has misidentified a rune.
The Armanen runes are particularly widely used in the White Nationalist Odinist groups, with which the defence have associated their five suspects. In my opinion none of the Armanen runes (see first picture) look like an F.
It should be noted that White Nationalist Odinism reflects a particular sect that claims to embrace Germanic Paganism, but in fact is more like a racist prison gang. Germanic Paganism also includes Heathens, groups such as The Troth who are neo-Pagan blending elements of Wicca and Heathenry, Asatru, and the Asatru Folk Association. Of these, only the Asatru Folk Association ascribes to the belief that Germanic Paganism should only be practiced by white people, but unlike Odinists they are not a violent White Nationalist group. The vast majority of practitioners of Heathenry/Germanic Paganism are entirely non-violent and non-racist.
The Armanen runic set contains the rune "us", which is derived from the Younger Futhark rune "oss". "Oss" refers to "god" - again, not solely to Odin. "Oss" is the corresponding rune to the Elder Futhark rune "ansuz".
It is possible that if the "hagal" rune was in fact the "hagall" rune from the Younger Futhark, and the F was one of the variations of the "oss" rune, that the only alphabet used was the Younger Futhark and the defence has misidentified the runes. Either two alphabets were used, or the defence has made a mistake.
Clearly I'm saying this without having seen the crime scene, however logically one can see that if the "hagal(l)" rune was used that means the Armanen or Younger Futhark was used, as the rune shape for "haglaz" is completely different (see pictures), and if the "ansuz" rune was used that can only be from the Elder Futhark.
The defence makes a further claim regarding Brad Holder and the F symbol which is somewhat misleading: "This “F” symbol was the same “F” symbol found in many of Brad Holder’s pages which will be attached, including Holder’s creepy self-drawn illustration in which a red “F” rune was found at the base of a tree where a man appeared to be sacrificed on a tree." (Memorandum, p.27)
Holder's painting is of Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, the tree of life. It is, to an extent, a depiction of a sacrifice - Odin was making *self-sacrificial* actions, none of which killed him. He was not sacrificed by another individual. It is a religious painting, not dissimilar to a Christian having a crucifix on the wall.
None of this means that the crime scene 100% was or wasn't staged and runes were or weren't depicted. It does mean that if runes were used it was in a way that doesn't make sense - while it may literally say "Hail Odin" (more accurately "Hail God"), the "hail" refers primarily to the weather. It also means either two runic alphabets were used, or the defence misidentified "oss" as "ansuz" (they do look essentially the same).
